For Immediate Release: Jan. 7, 2013

By Office of Naval Research

ARLINGTON, Va. — Longstanding partnerships between the Office of Naval Research (ONR) and academia have led to countless discoveries over the years, thanks in part to programs that invite guest researchers into Navy laboratories each year.

Applications are now being accepted through Feb. 16 for the 2013 Summer Faculty Research Program, which teams researchers from institutions of higher education with peers at Navy laboratories throughout the country for a 10-week period between May and August.

“This is a highly effective research program,” said ONR Executive Director Dr. Walter F. Jones, who himself took part in the program at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base while serving on the faculty at the University of Tennessee. “It is the perfect win-win opportunity for research faculty to broaden the scope of their research and for the Navy to build a foundation for future partnerships.”

The other opportunity for partnership, the Sabbatical Leave Program, provides college professors and researchers appointments to Navy laboratories for periods ranging from one semester up to an entire year. Applications for this program are due six months before the proposed sabbatical.

More than 100 researchers took part in the programs last year at renowned locations such as the Naval Research Laboratory, as well as other centers focused on space, medical, and undersea, surface and air warfare research areas.

Overall, these programs help foster relationships between laboratories across the “Navy Research Enterprise” and participants, who can leverage newfound knowledge of the Navy in future research at their home institutions.

“I saw firsthand how these valuable programs help both the Navy and participating researchers, who gain access to Navy equipment and facilities and come away with a deeper understanding of the Navy and its research goals,” Jones said.

Faculty members from U.S. Department of Education-designated Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Minority Institutions, American Indian Tribal Colleges and Universities, and Hispanic Serving Institutions (HBCU/MI/TCU/HIS) are especially encouraged to apply.

About the Office of Naval Research

The Department of the Navy’s Office of Naval Research (ONR) provides the science and technology necessary to maintain the Navy and Marine Corps’ technological advantage. Through its affiliates, ONR is a leader in science and technology with engagement in 50 states, 70 countries, 1,035 institutions of higher learning and 914 industry partners. ONR employs approximately 1,400 people, comprising uniformed, civilian and contract personnel, with additional employees at the Naval Research Lab in Washington, D.C.